Connecticut lost 3,900 jobs in August, but the state's jobless rate still eased to 4.8 percent, state labor trackers say.

The state's nonfarm employment dipped two-tenths of a percent last month to 1,687,200 jobs vs. July's counts, the state Department of Labor said Thursday. However, the state in the past year has gained 6,000 jobs, lifting its nonfarm-worker count four-tenths of a percent, since Aug. 2016, the agency said.

Connecticut's July unemployment rate was 5 percent. In Aug. a year ago, it was 4.9 percent. The nation's August jobless rate was 4.4 percent.

Seven of the state's 10 major industry supersectors, led by trade, transportation and utilities, lost jobs last month, while two (manufacturing and professional & business services) gained and one (information) was flat, the state said.

"This is a major retreat from the positive momentum we saw earlier this year," said Economist Pete Gioia of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. "It's vital that policymakers focus on job creation when developing the next state budget. We need a state budget that sets the tone for positive job growth."

CORRECTION: A previous version incorrectly identified the number of jobs gained in Connecticut in the 12 months since Aug. 2016.